At the start of the game there is an option: choose
whether you'd like action screens or not. (Serious
wargamers should not take this option).

When you attack or are under attack, you are asked
to select a battle. Move the cursor over to the
desired unit and a picture of a plain with mountains
in the background will be presented on screen,
with planes, helicopters and tanks moving about.

A
target cursor is under your control in Missile
Command style, and you use this to destroy
the enemy.

The
tanks which trundle up and down the road in the
foreground are your forces. Be careful not to
hit them, as they fire at the planes too and can
bring them down.

How
well you do on this screen -- ie. how many tanks
and planes you destroy with how many missiles
-- plays a major part in the game. Your performance
is taken into consideration as a strength factor,
deciding the fate of your forces elsewhere. So
if you do badly in this phase, then expect severe
losses all round..

This
triumph of gaming and common sense should prove
the most popular war game yet. It has the atmosphere
and action appeal to attract many who may have
disliked war games up to now. The political angle
has been struck just right, so that the program
presents a realistic simulation that actively
discourages nuclear war. Needless to say the mindless
blasters should steer clear of this game, because
it's got a conscience. Everyone else will love
it..

The atmosphere
generated by this excellent game is incredible,
and virtually unrivalled by anything else available
on the 64. Using the unpleasant and horrific subject
of nuclear war for the purpose of a game may appear
distasteful to some. But on playing it will be
seen that, as in real life, the use of nuclear
weapons for the purpose of winning a war is a
futile one and gains nothing..

I was amazed:
me, a war games hater, loving a war game. It must
be special, and it is. The combination of the
most tense and atmospheric screens yet seen on
the 64 with a simple to use, yet complex war game
is stunning. Although the game is controversial,
it in fact makes clear the horrors of a nuclear
conflict. The graphic details of the outcome of
a nuclear war in Europe was a far cry from the
'blast the Commies' tone of other games..

Welcome
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Cold,
grim nuclear reality. That's what this game is about.
This new approach to a war game brings home the horrors
of global nuclear holocaust. Here, though, it's up to
you to stop it from happening.

Although
this is essentially a war game, it uses a series of
different screen types to depict the action in an atmospheric,
nail-biting way -- and there are also a couple of actual
arcade action screens.

The
game starts with an absolutely magnificent and appropriate
piece of music -- the Lennon/McCartney song 'Give Peace
a Chance'. This, coupled with a pledge in the instructions
that the game is dedicated to peace, give it a superbly
sober atmosphere from the start.

You
then have several selections to make:

O
one of three levels against the computer.O
whether you want to command the NATO forces or the Warsaw
Pact.O
whether you want to include the arcade sequences.

Next
you will be presented with a detailed map of Europe
and Western Russia (including Moscow). The map shows
mountain ranges, capital cities, country borders, and
all the armed forces of both sides.

First
you have the option to MOVE your units. Simply place
your box-like cursor over the desired unit, press fire
button, and then move the cursor to where you'd like
the unit to move to. You can only move one character
space at a time and the unit will move as soon as you
press the fire button again.

Next
comes ATTACK. This has exactly the same sort of control
as moving, this time positioning the cursor over the
enemy unit you'd like to attack. Once a unit is sent
into battle it cannot be halted until your turn is over.

When
all attacking forces are in operation you can FIGHT.
If you have selected the action screen mode, then you
can choose which battle you'd like to take part in.
You are then engaged in an arcade-type shoot-em-up.
If you've decided to leave the action screens out, then
the battle will be decided on merits of air superiority,
supplies and armament.

A
massive enemy launch of nuclear weaponsis
under way and your reflex system has
responded with its own devastating strike.

After
the battle you can REBUILD your units with somewhat
scant supplies. Firstly you are given a quantity of
armament supplies -- these can be issued to the more
desperate forces by positioning the cursor over the
unit and pressing fire a certain number of times according
to how many supplies you want sent. As with every type
of supply, you must plan carefully your rebuilding schedule:
once a supply is sent it cannot be reclaimed.

The
next batch of supplies to come in are the air support.
These are used to rebuild your units in similar fashion
to the armament. Again, they are very limited and have
to be used wisely.

Once
rebuilding has finished, you move onto the AIR phase.
This is to determine how you're going to use your air
command during your next go. You have spare aircraft
which you can access, but which will run out if you
use too much. There are several options which you can
allocate these to, some essential and some tactical.

The
missiles have nearly reached their targets.

Essential
options are air power (the most important), counter
air strikes, and reconnaissance. Other options include
interdiction, assault breakers, deep strike, and iron
snake.

COUNTER
AIR STRIKES are attacks on enemy airfields and bases;
this will all help in the overall battle for air superiority.

INTERDICTION
is sending planes behind enemy lines to attack the enemy
supply and movement network. It has a minor risk of
setting off a nuclear strike.

The
other three are respectively an attack on one particular
unit (high success rate), a strike into enemy territory,
and an attack on railways to disable enemy reinforcements.

Finally you have the option to use a SPECIAL MISSION,
basically setting off a strategic chemical or nuclear
launch (see separate box).

After your go it's the computer turn, and it'll take
its go in exactly the same way as you. This time, though,
it'll fire any special missions at the beginning of
its move.

JR .

The computer's
three skill levels.

There are three computer levels, each with its own characteristics.
Each new level plays an increasing standard of conventional
warfare, plus more underhand tactics.

On
level one the computer will play a totally conventional
war game and unless provoked will not use the nuclear
or chemical option.

On levels two and three the computer will use nuclear
and chemical options to prevent you winning the game.
Especially level three, which plays a highly intelligent
and unpredictable game. Nuclear escalations on this
level are usually enormous. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

With levels two and three there are some new options
which don't exist on the first level. Usage of tactical
chemical weapons in standard warfare is allowed. This
gives an attacking unit far greater effectiveness. Once
used, it is in constant use throughout the game.

If
you are commanding the Warsaw pact, then on the high
levels special units are made available to you. These
are the 1st Airborne Army and the 1st Amphibious Army.
The former can be flown directly behind enemy lines,
whilst the latter can move over the sea to a tactical
attack point.
.

The
nuclear missiles are about to strike a city..

STARTING
A NUCLEAR WAR

The most controversial part of the program involves
the use of chemical and nuclear weapons. You are given
the option of selecting these 'special missions' at
the end of each turn.

A
CHEMICAL LAUNCH is automatically targeted on an enemy
supply city. A special readout will give you the details
and expected results. It will also tell you the results
of the attack. Using this mission carries the risk of
an enemy nuclear response.

A
STRATEGIC NUCLEAR ATTACK involves some nail-biting and
tense moments. When you first switch to nuclear mode,
you are given 30 seconds to ring a phone number and
obtain a special authorization code. This is a real
number, 0203 668405, contactable 24 hours a day.

If
you enter the correct code number (it's always the same),
then you are allowed direct control over all targeting
and warheads. There are three separate settings:

O
Standby, which you revert to if you decide against a
launch.

O
Strategic launch, in which a single nuclear strike can
be targeted on an enemy city or unit (see below). Enemy
reaction will be severe.

O
Fire-Plan, a full-scale strike. This should NEVER be
used. Retaliation is extreme beyond measure.

Targeting
a single nuclear or chemical launch is alarmingly simple.
You are given control of a cursor which you can position
over the desired target. Press fire and the rest is
done automatically.

When
under enemy nuclear attack, a launch will be detected
and a large Impact Predictor cursor will precede the
target cursor. If you have an option called 'reflex
system' switched on, your forces will automatically
launch a strike of similar size. There is nothing you
can do but watch the targets destroyed in a chilling
sequence of graphic screens.

As
you play the game, it becomes increasingly clear that
the war cannot be won with nuclear weapons. Only lost.
.

The
total destruction of the city, leaving only
rubble and an evil nuclear mushroom cloud..

Why the
figures were fiddled

Developing Theatre Europe gave experienced war-games
programmer Alan Steele one of the frights of his life.
It happened as the game reached completion. He and the
rest of the PSS team had done extensive research into
the relative strengths of the NATO and Warsaw Pact forces,
including contacts with the Ministry of Defence and
the Soviet embassy in London.

With
the information, they programmed in the figures and
then let the computer play itself to see what happened.
The result was chilling. Every time the communist forces
scored an overwhelming victory, leaving Nato with the
stark option of using nuclear weapons, or allowing West
Germany to fall.

Alan
says the experience had a big impact on him. 'For a
long time I'd wanted to write a war game based on the
current situation in Europe, to see what would happen.
I didn't start out with any axe to grind, we just took
the program and put in the most reliable information
we could get. I find the result very disturbing -- after
all, it's NATO's avowed policy to go nuclear if its
conventional forces cannot hold back the Warsaw pact
forces in a future war.'

The superiority of the Warsaw Pact was so great that
PSS have actually had to fiddle the figures in the version
of the program that's been released. Otherwise, they
say, it wouldn't make a reasonable game -- the same
side would always win.

Alan
himself strongly hopes that his program will encourage
people to work for peace. 'I think it's a crying shame
that there are so many problems in the world and all
we can do is sit back and build nuclear weapons because
we mistrust each other.'
.

PRESENTATION

ORIGINALITY

96%

The
large package has an excellent instruction booklet,
glossy map.

84%

Certainly
not just another war game.

GRAPHICS

HOOKABILITY

71%

Certainly
better than most war games!

96%

Be
careful. The effect this game can have on you
is alarming.

SOUND

LASTABILITY

89%

Effective
noises plus one of the best pieces of micro music
ever.

95%

All
three levels are very different, and you can play
either side.

VALUE
FOR MONEY

94%

If
you're strong enough to grapple with the alarming
game concept, you'll find this one very, very special
indeed...